Folding table.



C. W. COFFIN.

FOLDING TABLE.

1,288,385. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3. 19M. Patented 17,

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

CHARLES W. GOFFIN, F PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. T. BURROWES COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Application filed December 3, 1914. Serial No. 875,362.

, T0 allwkom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. Oorrm, a it zen o h Unit d S a es, n re d of Portland, county of Cumberland, State of zM aine, have invented an Improvement in Folding Tables, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like characters on-the drawings representing like parts in each of the several'views.

This invention relates to folding tables of the type wherein the legs are adapted to be folded up, alongside the top so that the table occupies only a small spacescarcely more thanthat requiredby the top tself when not in use. A prime object of the invent on is V to provide a table of this kind that is exceedingly simple and cheap to manufacture and With a construction whereby a table with a square top having an edge of 28 or thereabout as usual with card tables may have legs of a usual height, 2'. 6., about 27", contained within the limits of the top when they I are folded up. To this end I provide a novel arrangementof legs, each pivoted adjacent a corner of the top and adapted to "fold up againstthe top in parallelism with i an edge of the top. A further feature of the invention has to do with improved means for lbracin and holding the legs projected out from t e top, in operative position. A still 1 further feature has to do with an improved j arrangement of brac ng or strengthening ribs for the top whereby these are also adapted to serve to the best advantage for securing the leg pivots and braces thereto.

' The foregoingand other objects and features of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be thereafter pointed out in the appended claims.

i Referring tothe drawings:

, igure 1 shows in elevation a table constructed in accordance with my invention set up ready for use;

same folded'or collapsed;

:" 'tion showing the means for bracing table egs;

Fig.' is a; fragmentary detail partly in F g; 2 is a similar view showing theelev-ation and partly in section showing means for securing a brace so as to cause it to exert a requisite spring tension; and

Fig. 6 is a detail in elevation showing a device for cooperating with the leg brace.

The top 10 is shown as rectangular and substantially square. It is preferably made of relatively thin stock and is strengthened and stiffened by cleats or ribs fastened un derneath the same. In accordance with my invention there are three of these ribs. two of them indicated at 11, 12, extending in parallelism adjacent opposite sides of the top and spaced a little distance from the edge as shown. The third rib or cleat 13 extends diagonally from a point adjacent, though a little distance from, the end of one of the side cleats to a similar point adjacent the opposite end of the other side cleat. There are four legs pivoted adjacent the respective corners of the top and two of these as indicated at 1 1, 15, are pivoted, as shown by screw pivots, to opposite ends of the cleats 11, 12 as seen at 16, 17, the pivot screws being preferably equipped with outer bracket supports 18 fixed to the top. These legs are therefore adapted to fold up against the top and lie alongside the edge as shown and it will be noted that they may be of a length only a little less than the dimension of the top and lie within the limits thereof. The two other legs 19, 20 are pivoted by similar screw pivots as seen at 21, 22 to the outer sides of the respective cleats 11, 12 close to the ends thereof opposite the pivots of the other pair of legs. Thus these legs may also be folded in against the top to lie adjacent the edge thereof and alongside the cleats 11, 12 and these legs may be of a length to correspond to that of the legs 14, 15 and also lie within the limits of the top.

Suitable means is provided for bracing the respective legs preferably with braces at once simple in construction and operation and adapted to be readily tripped for releasing the legs to fold them. As a suitable form of brace for this purpose I show rods 23 having a short right angle bend 24 at one end and a notch formation 25 adjacent the other end. These braces for cooperation with the legs 14, 15, have the right angle bends 24 set into the ends of the diagonal cleat 13 as seen at 24 which thus serves a double purpose of a stiffening cleat and a holding member for these braces. The holes or sockets for the right angle bend 2a are not formed precisely at right angles to the plane in which the legs swin but are canted a little with respect thereto as seen at 26 in Fig. 5. so that while the braces lie alongside the legs or even extend a little away therefrom when the legs are folded, as the legs are turned out to operative position, the braces swinging with them, are by the canting action of the inclined sockets 26 caused to press in toward the legs. The outer portions of the braces are guided through suitable forked brackets 27 pivoted at 28 to the legs and having between the up standing forks 9.9 thereof detents 30 adapted to engage with the shoulders of notches 25. Thus the inward pressure of the braces against the legs as described causes a locking engagement of the detents 30 with the notches at the ends of the braces, which engagement is adapted to take place as the legs 1 are swung to operative position. It will be understood that this locking engagement can be readily released by pressing in on the outer end portion of the brace. The foregoing description in its reference to the direction of pressure of these brace members, for locking them against the detents,

and also the manual releasing pressure, is to be understood as merely illustrative, since of course the brace rods can be biased to press either inward or outward against the detents as preferred, and the manually applied pressure for releasing the same will hence be exerted either in an inward or out ward direction according to the way the spring pressure of the brace rods is applied.

The brace rods 23 for the legs 19, 2-0, are.

secured as seen at 31 in the sides of cleats 11, 12, the sockets of these rods being slightly inclined to the axis about which the braces are required to turn so as to create a yielding locking pressure similarly as just described for the other pair of braces.

It is to be noted that a table constructed as described may be made light and strong and of the greatest simplicity and cheapness, since the brace or rib members for strengthening the table top are also disposed to the best advantage for securing the folding legs and the braces therefor. Further the tie scribed disposition of parts permits legs of a length very nearly equal to the dimension of the table in each direction to be folded up against the table without projecting beyond the edges thereof. Also the individual legs can be quickly and easily moved to operative position or folded as required and the bracing means is one that while effective for its purpose and easy to manipulate. is also simple and easy to produce. I do not desire to be limited to the precise structural details shown in all particulars and therefore in-v tend that the present embodiment of the invention shall be considered, as illustrative and not restrictive. referring rather to the appended claims to indicate the scope of the invention. i

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding table, comprising a top having a cleat fixed thereto adjacent each of two opposite sides thereof, a leg pivoted to an outer side of each of said cleats adjacent the end thereof to extend in substantial parallelism with the respective cleats when folded alongside and relatively close to the adjacent edge of the table and two other legs each pivoted to an end of one of said cleats to extend transversely therefrom, and substantially at right angles thereto when folded, and also alongside and relatively close to the adj acent edge of the table.

2. A folding'table, comprising a top having cleats at opposite sides, a leg pivoted to the outer side of each of said cleats at one end of one cleat and at the opposite end of the other cleat to extend alongside the re spective cleats when folded against the table,v

other legs pivoted to the opposite ends of the respective cleats to extend transversely therefrom, and substantially at right angles thereto when folded against the table, and means for releasably bracing said legs.

3. A folding table, comprising a top having parallel cleats adjacent opposite sides thereof and extending to a point adjacent the edges of the table at each end, a leg pivoted to the outer sides of each of said cleats at one end of one cleat and at the opposite end of the other cleat, the free ends of said legs extending beyond the cleats, a leg pivoted to the opposite end of each of the respective cleats to extend transversely therefrom, and at right angles thereto when folded, said legs being of a length to extend across the cleat at the opposite side of the ilgable, and means for releasably bracing the egs.

a. A square folding table, comprising a top having parallel cleats adjacent opposite sides and a diagonally extending intermediate cleat, legs pivoted at the ends of said side cleats adjacent each corner of the table, two diagonally opposite legs being pivoted at the outer sides of the cleat ends, and the other two legs being pivoted to the ends of the cleats to extend transversely therefrom so that each leg lies alongside and relatively close to an edge of the table when folded, and releasable bracing means connecting said cleats and said legs.

5. A square folding table, comprising a.

top having parallel, cleats adjacent opposite sides, an intermediate diagonal cleat, a -leg pivoted adjacent each corner of the table to said cleats, the pivots being alternately at the outer sides of the cleat ends and on the ends extending transversely therefrom so that the legs when folded are disposed alongside and relatively close to the respective edges of the table with two legs in parallelism With the side cleats, and the other two legs at right angles thereto, and releasable braces connecting said cleats with said legs, the braces for two of the legs being conneoted to the respective side cleats, and the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the other two braces being connected to the ends 10* of said diagonal cleat.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES W. COFFIN.

Witnesses.

H. H. RUssELL, M. W. POTTER.

"Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

